Launching a business is hard enough–doing it during a recession takes major guts, a heck of a value proposition and a serious threshold for disappointment.

During 1998 to 2005, just two-thirds of new small businesses survived their first two years, while only 44% made it past the four-year mark, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Scary odds over a generally prosperous stretch, save for the tech meltdown in 2001-2002.

And yet, as layoffs mount (the U.S. unemployment rate is at 8.5% and climbing), the number of start-ups is on the rise too. Research by Rob Fairlie, professor of economics and finance at the University of California at Santa Cruz (on behalf of the Kauffman Foundation), found that 3.4 million new businesses were launched on average in the U.S. each year between 1996 and 2006. In 2007, that number jumped to 3.9 million. While 2008 figures haven't been released, even more new entrepreneurs seem to be taking the plunge.

"I have absolutely seen an uptick in the number of people who are attempting to start businesses of their own since the start of this recession," says Janet Siegenthaler, a start-up consultant based in Fairfield, Conn.

Before you liquidate your 401(k), check what these recession-born entrepreneurs–many who have not yet posted a profit–had to say about starting businesses in the last 18 grueling months.

Becca Brown, 30, and Monica Murphy, 30

Business: SoleMates, Old Greenwich, Conn. Markets and sells the High Heeler, a $12-per-pair rubber stopper device that fits snugly on the stem of women's high-heeled shoes.

Obstacle: While not initially high on their list of priorities, having a working Web site became a crucial–and frustrating–component to getting SoleMates off the ground. "It was extremely difficult to find a Web designer who shared our vision," says Murphy. "We had to delay our launch since we didn't want to have a product on the market without a Web presence."

Advice: "Everything costs twice as much and takes twice as long as you plan for," says Brown. "No one else will be as invested in your business as you are, so don't expect everyone to follow through when they claim they can help you."

Doron Reuveni, 42
Business: uTest, Southborough, Mass. Provides testing services for software, Internet and mobile application companies. Launched in August 2008 with $2.3 million in funding from venture capital and angel investors; rousted another $5 million in a second venture round in November.

Obstacle: Convincing investors that he had a viable product. "I've had this idea since early 2007," says Reuveni, "but without investors, it was difficult to get off the ground."

Advice: Don't rush the process. "It might take a little longer to get your business going, but be persistent," says Reuveni. "Take small steps."

Charisse McAuliffe, 31

Business: GenGreen, Fort Collins, Colo. Manages a database of more than 45,000 green businesses and organizations in the U.S. Licenses its content to National Geographic and News Corp.'s Web sites. Launched in February 2008 with $250,000 in savings; later landed $750,000 from angel and private equity investors.

Obstacle: Finding the right sources of funding. "It's been harder to find quality investors," says McAuliffe. "Now that we're up and running, I'm getting as many as 10 solicitations per day, but for the most part they're not viable options."

Advice: Use investor networking tools. "I've had great results with Angelsoft.net," says McAuliffe. "They streamline the application process for start-ups looking for funding, and they vet the investors for you."

Philip Foote, 34

Business: Philip Foote Law, New York, N.Y. Law firm, mainly for clients in the construction business. Foote bootstrapped his practice from personal savings in early 2008.

Obstacle: Getting the word out. "Most lawyers don't take [out] ads," says Foote.

Advice: Show your face. "E-mails might seem like a great and easy way to promote your business, but nothing works as well as face-to-face contact," says Foote. "You have to get out there and build real relationships with potential clients."

David Jones, 48, and Ed Basconi, 55

Business: Edamar, Johnson City, Tenn. Makes, markets and sells the KitBook, which teaches kids (target age: 12) how to build electric circuits and contains all the necessary equipment (price: $40 a kit). Bootstrapped from personal savings amassed as engineers for Siemens.

Obstacle: Tight educational budgets. "One of our sales representatives recently said he hasn't seen such a tough environment for selling education tools in 15 years," says Jones. "We're hopeful that once the stimulus-package money starts flowing, school districts will start picking up our product."

Advice: Be prepared for long hours and little pay. "I'm a marathoner, so I know about hard work," says Jones, "but this is above and beyond."

Taylor Spellman, 25

Business: August Black, New York, N.Y. Interior design shop catering to young professionals, many in the finance industry. Launched in March 2008 on personal savings and credit card debt.

Obstacle: Target clientèle have seen their bonuses go up in smoke. "Many of them lost their jobs, or never got those bonuses, so they're wary of discretionary spending," says Spellman. "I've had to cut my fees from $100 per hour to $50."

Advice: "Be sure to have some money in the bank as a cushion," says Spellman. "If you're not willing to go into debt, this probably isn't the right time to start your own business."

Franchising for Women has found a great business opportunity for people who like to be creative and make things.  If you’re looking for a way to make good money, either part-time or full-time, while being creative and having fun, you should look at Press-A-Print.  Press-A-Print is the #1 specialty printing opportunity, and it offers all the benefits of an expensive franchise operation at the lower cost of a business opportunity.  The company proudly supports, nurtures and guides its associates to success, teaching them how to top the industry competition.

I often joke that if it weren’t for silk-screened tees and sweatshirts, I would have no wardrobe at all.  Every activity and competition at my children’s schools, from Spirit Day to Science Olympiad, the Track Team, the Swim Team and more, all have shirts emblazoned with the appropriate printing and logos.  There is no doubt in my mind that the market is huge for Press-A-Print products.

The most exciting part about the Press-A-Print opportunity is the ability to make your own designs and expressions.  Maybe your local bar wants something sporting its name for its St. Patrick’s Day celebration.  Or perhaps you could make up Irish-themed shirts and hats, like “Kiss Me, I’m Irish”, and sell them to several different establishments in early March.  The shirts would be great for St. Patrick’s Day, and people would buy them for gifts or fun at other times, too.

If you make up products, like the St. Patrick’s Day example above, in addition to filling customer orders, then you can have even more fun in this business.  Every activity in your area is full of potential customers.  Keep your eyes open for marathons, fundraising activities, motorcycle swap meets, and holidays, to name a few opportunities.  You can design and print shirts advertising your business and wear them in public, when appropriate.  Don’t forget to take your business cards with you!

Of course, that is all up to you.  You can choose to just fill orders and make all your income from that.  Press-A-Print charges no royalties, and although they will teach you how to get all the orders you want, they do not pressure you to spend more time on the business than you care to.  If you want to work part-time around another job or around your children’s schedule, you are free to do that.

Because Press-A-Print owner/operators own the equipment, they are able to offer small quantities, quick turnaround and local service to their customers.  This is known as the "S.Q.L. Advantage" and it is unique to Press-A-Print.  This is the difference that enables owners to take on small jobs profitably, jobs that bigger companies have to turn down.

The Press-A-Print Professional Program starts at just $18,990.  The equipment is very compact, so you can operate your business right from home.  Third party financing is available, too.

Specialty printing is fun, and it can be very profitable even when working a flexible schedule.  Whether you are putting your special mark on visors, shirts, pens or rulers, you’ll be amazed at how many items you can imprint in a short period of time.  Press-A-Print also has equipment to make banners and car signs, plus many other fun and/or promotional items.

SOHO HERO Business Centers Cater to the needs of small office/Home office professionals.

The sagging economy has shrunk many of our businesses to almost non-existence as they melt from big, multi-office buildings down to single offices containing desks situated in small cubicles.  And if that is what’s happened to the big businesses, what about the small ones?

For entrepreneurs running smaller operations or people who would like to start a small business, signing a lease for office space is a scary idea.  If the business doesn’t survive, the entrepreneur is still on the hook for the length of the lease.  Not only that, but having an office also means having someone at the office.  People need desks and chairs and phones, bathrooms and sinks and lights.  Office expenses are much higher than just the amount of the rent.

Enter SOHO HERO, a franchise catering to the needs of small office/home office professionals (SOHOPs, to me).  These people benefit from the services of a SOHO HERO location in many ways.  One of the biggest benefits, in my mind, is the meeting space.  You can give sales presentations to clients, or training sessions to your sales team.  You can use the professional office space to help everyone relax and concentrate, rather than trying to meet in a restaurant that is full of distractions.

Nearly 15 million businesses in North America are SOHO-run, and the numbers are growing fast.  These people need a “home away from home” where they can comfortably take care of business without the financial stress related to running an office.  That is where SOHO HERO locations come into the picture, offering their clients a variety of affordable services and creating solutions for everyone, including SOHO franchise owners.

Graphic design services offered at SOHO HERO franchise locations include logo design, business cards, letterhead and envelopes, posters and banners, and brochures.  Companies can use the mailbox rental service to avoid receiving business-related correspondence at their homes, and SOHO franchise locations also offer shipping and packaging services with all major carriers, online tracking included.

WiFi Internet access is a great benefit to people who don’t want to pay a monthly access bill at home, and fax service is a perk for people who need to expedite transactions without spending a lot of money on overnight document shipping.  Notary services are also available onsite and are a great convenience to people completing formal agreements with clients at the SOHO HERO office.

Other miscellaneous services include laminating and binding, rubber stamps and labels.  The SOHO HERO franchise opportunity is great because most of the items supplied to customers are things the franchisee can use to operate their own business.  A business that helps other businesses grow and prosper offers great personal rewards in addition to financial success. 

Wow, this is a really great franchise concept.  It’s like a country club for pregnant women, a place where they can relax and be pampered while simultaneously getting the information and services they need.  Franchisees and clients alike appreciate that the Becoming Mom Pregnancy Spa and Imaging Center also provides services for women still trying to get pregnant, and those in their postpartum months.  It truly offers almost everything a woman could need or want in respect to pregnancy.

Becoming Mom has morning sickness products, skin care products, nutritional products, breast pumps, books, videos and more available for sale. They also offer unique gift baskets and gift certificates, either of which will bring a smile to any woman’s face and add to franchisee profits.

A very cool product offered through Becoming Mom is a pocket-sized Heartbeat Keepsake that lets Dad, Grandma, and older siblings carry baby's heartbeat with them wherever they go, just like Mom does.  Low quality fetal dopplers are often hard to hear and provide inferior sound quality compared to Becoming Mom’s new Advanced Technology Fetal Doppler.

The Heartbeat Keepsake not only lets Mom take home a recording, but also gives her the option of sending the sound her baby's heartbeat to family and friends over email.  Mom, family and friends can hear baby’s heartbeat whenever they want, and it doubles as a great promotional tool for your franchise when people ask Mom, “Where in the world did you get that?”

Becoming Mom also offers IntelliGender, a simple-to-use urine Gender Prediction Test (GPT) that is designed for home use by expectant women.  It has been proven over 90% accurate in laboratory tests, and it’s a great way to add to the bottom line at your franchise location.

Another fun and nurturing service women can receive at their Becoming Mom franchise location is a Pregnancy Portrait Sitting.  Mom’s-to-be can celebrate the joy of pregnancy with a memorable one-hour photography session designed to remind Mom how beautiful she is.

As a Becoming Mom franchise owner, you’ll be able to offer your clients a great variety of spa services, but we haven’t gotten to the most fun part, yet.  It’s the baby pictures!  There are a number of ultrasound choices available, and sometimes doctors refer women to Becoming Mom to have their diagnostic testing performed.  As a Becoming Mom franchisee, you will be able to offer real time remote video access, allowing friends and family to see the baby on their computer at the same time as Mom!  This is truly a franchise designed to bring people together to celebrate Mom, baby and the miracle of birth.

If you love babies and have an appreciation of all the physical and mental changes women endure before, after and throughout pregnancy, this might be the perfect franchise for you.

Cleaning franchises and smaller individual businesses have been around for practically ever, and will continue to thrive for as long as there are homes to clean.  Even people who have the time to clean often choose to outsource the job to someone who performs the service for a fee.  Why is that?  I have at least a part of the answer.

A few years ago, my cousin started a cleaning business with a friend.  They made a decent income, and I thought I would start a cleaning service on my side of town.  I knew from talking to my friends’ parents that the market was huge, and I could get plenty of clients.  It seemed like the ideal business because the overhead was low, and I could choose the hours I was available.  I didn’t plan to get rich, but I wanted to make enough money that I didn’t have to worry about monthly bills.

So off I went in search of clients, and it was easy for me.  The first couple referred me to another customer in their building, who then sent me to her daughter.  I didn’t provide any specialized services, like cleaning chandeliers dangling from a 20-foot ceiling.  I just did the basic week-to-week stuff, like cleaning the bathrooms and washing the kitchen floor.  I would probably still be doing it today if it weren’t for one huge problem.

I hate cleaning.  I don’t even like to clean my own house.  The only reason I started cleaning for money is because I knew I could make money doing it.  And let me tell you, that is no way to go into business.

I know people who love to clean.  They find it therapeutic, and they feel a sense of pride and accomplishment after they have cleaned.  If you have these commendable traits, or would like to provide jobs to others who do, then you need to take a peek at these cleaning franchises.

The Maids Home Services franchise was ranked #1 in the category in 2009.  Their business model is set up so franchisees get nights, weekends, and holidays off.  According to The Wall Street Journal, home services are a multi-billion dollar industry enjoying double-digit growth.  This is a great opportunity for the right person.

Molly Maid knows that residential housecleaning has become one of the fastest growing industries in the country, over the last decade. They teach franchisees how to recruit, train, motivate, and manage their employees to do the cleaning so franchisees can concentrate on expanding their customer base.

Maid Brigade Franchise is a Green Clean Certified housekeeping company that offers the largest exclusive territories.  Exclusive territory sizes start from 25,000 qualified households, and they can tailor your market size to best suit your needs.

The Cleaning Authority is doing their part to protect families and our planet with use of Green Seal Certified® house-cleaning products, along with HEPA vacuums and microfiber dusting cloths preferred by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  They know how to attract and retain customers while operating profitably, and they can teach you how to do the same.

ServiceMaster Clean is North America's #1 commercial cleaning (janitorial) business-to-business franchise where owners' employees clean business offices, health care facilities, doctors' offices and more.  They also serve residential customers.

You can request more information on any of these franchise opportunities through the America’s Best Franchises website.  Just complete the form below the respective Franchise Snapshot.

Okay, this is one category that positively should be listed under “Franchising For Women”.  Some may be wondering about that statement, so I’ll explain.  When I go to a salon, I like to be either the only customer there at the time, or be surrounded by women.  Call me silly, but I just don’t relax around men when I am having personal things done, even if it’s just getting my split ends trimmed off.  I don’t mind having a waiter bring me my dinner, but that is totally different.  Does that make me sexist?  Can’t help it.

That being said, there are thousands of women who don’t mind, and in fact enjoy, receiving pampering treatments from men.  Either gender can find incredible success with personal care and beauty franchises, and there are many aspects of the business to be explored.  For now, let’s take a look at just two small niches:  cosmetics and body wraps. 

Everyone is familiar with cosmetics, even little children who strive to imitate their mothers after finding the lipstick tube on her dressing table.  Many men wear make-up to brighten their eyes, and some men have a whole cosmetics kit for personal use.  Cosmetics is big business, and it is always changing.  There are new formulations, new colors, and new styles that practically ensure consistently high sales for anyone in the cosmetics business.

Merle Norman Cosmetics is a well-known name in the industry.  This company develops, manufactures and distributes its own full line of skin care and color cosmetic products.  The company offers an open-ended franchise agreement with no franchise fee or royalty fees.  Merle Norman Cosmetics franchise was ranked at #34 in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 list for 2009, up from its #37 ranking in 2008.  The company was founded in 1931, so it’s no stranger to success. 

The FACES Cosmetics Skincare Spa franchises employ a simple concept:  franchisees own and operate stand-alone boutiques in high-traffic locations, selling the fantastic yet affordable brand of FACES color cosmetics.  But that’s not all!  FACES franchise owners also provide a complete range of spa services including facials, waxing, pedicures, manicures, and makeovers.  FACES fills the gap between mass-market make-up merchandisers and expensive department store cosmetics brands.  If you like the looks of this opportunity, get more information by clicking the link here at Franchising For Women.

Another wonderful service, used by both women and men, is the body wrap. Suddenly Slender’s body wrap treatment produces almost instantaneous inch loss, and has been used by celebrities like Jim Carey and Gloria Gaynor.  The Suddenly Slender system includes body wraps, bras, supplements, and beauty products; there are over 100 Suddenly Slender products for weight loss, nutrition, skin care, and beauty.The Body Wrap Studio franchise may be operated from a retail/office location, or as a home-based business.  There are eight different wraps for clients to choose from, including an Age Defying wrap and a Super Fat Burner wrap. 

If you want to make your pocketbook bulge with green for helping your clients get slim and colorful, take a closer look at these four beauty franchises.

Every once in a while a really cool, fun franchise comes along and I can’t wait until one opens up near me.  The fun franchise opportunity I am referring to is called Flight Experience.  It is a replica of a Boeing 737 with a state-of-the-art cockpit, wrap-around scenery, and high-fidelity sound and visuals that create a total immersion experience.

According to the franchisor, “Flight Experience flights are extremely popular as gifts for men, so Father’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas are peak selling times.”  What about me, I ask?  I’m sure they would be popular for women, too, if we hint correctly around the holidays.  If the idea of sitting in a cockpit with a million buttons and dials and loud noises doesn’t float your boat, make sure you’re specific about your desire to “fly to the Bahamas.”

Golf Greens Fore U offers licensees the only golf synthetic turf with a low profile putting surface that never develops a “grain”, so putts role true in any direction.  Many women love to be out on the golf course, and this business can score a hole-in-one on your financial course, too.  You can even market the product during your golf outings!

IntelliTurf is the first artificial turf franchise opportunity to offer 100% recyclable golf green and lawn systems.  The industry has grown around 35% annually for the past five years, and the market is still in its infancy.  The products can be used on a golf course or, when used in a home landscape in place of natural grass, homeowners don’t have to worry about cutting or watering it – ever!

Games2U Mobile Gaming is quickly replacing the “Inflatables” and “Pizza Place” birthday parties as the fun and entertaining “gotta do” event.  One of the most difficult parts of taking a group of kids out to a party place is trying to keep track of them.  It seems everyone is hungry, or thirsty, or has to visit the restroom at different times.  With a Games2U franchise, you take the fun to the party.

There are several options available with this franchise opportunity, depending on your investment level.  Your clients can play Wii on a life-size screen, play laser tag, or fire up one of the ten gaming systems that accommodate 12-24 simultaneous players.  You can get your Games2U Mobile Gaming franchise up and running in 90 days or less because there is no costly construction or build-out required.  And the party isn’t just for kids!  Fundraisers and corporate and community events are all possible clients looking for fun entertainment.

So, there you have it.  Owning a franchise doesn’t have to be all work and no play.  Whether you'd rather be on a golf course, in a video game world, or flying to some exotic destination, buying a franchise can make your work days fun.

Many women want to buy a franchise, and they have a lot of different reasons for wanting to do so.  It is important to understand your motivations and identify your resources before you get too far into the decision-making process.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has a workbook available as a PDF file titled, “Is Franchising for Me?”  If you go to their website at http://www.sba.gov/ and scout around, you’ll find the workbook and also many other helpful documents for business owners and people who want to buy a franchise.

The first exercise in the SBA workbook is to identify your reasons for wanting to buy a franchise.  Some possible reasons would be to do what you want when you want to do it, or to improve your standard of living.

Once you list your reasons, you need to assess their meanings.  For example, many franchise opportunities require that franchisees operate the business rather than hire a manager.  This type of agreement would not be acceptable if your plan was to “do what you want when you want to do it.”  And improving your standard of living can mean very different things to different people.  For example, some women franchisees might want to take exotic vacations, and others might want to spend more time at home with their children.  Be very specific when you write down your reasons, and you’ll be more likely to locate franchise opportunities that are compatible with your needs and desires.

Some of the most important skills women franchisees should possess, in order to be successful with any of the franchise opportunities, are management skills.  It doesn’t matter if your business is sending out nurses to people’s homes, or selling take-out and delivery pizza; there are many jobs that need to be done.  Either type of business needs someone to order supplies, hire and train employees, do the banking and pay the bills.  There are phones to manage, products to deliver, and accountants and insurance people and lawyers and franchisors - and more - to keep in order.  You likely can’t do it all yourself, so you’ll need to be able to delegate.

Delegation of responsibilities is very difficult for people who have perfectionist tendencies, because nothing is ever quite good enough for them.  Micro-management, or trying to dictate every move employees make, is a very unproductive activity.  First of all, micro-managers waste valuable time and energy worrying about things that produce little, if any, negative effect on the business.  Also, employees get frustrated and often become angry about the lack of trust being shown to them.  Micro-managers need to learn to “let go” of trivial matters.

On the other hand, some women franchisees suffer from “mommy syndrome” and are always trying to make people happy and fix their personal problems.  It’s great to show empathy and to be popular with employees, but not at the expense of the business or your personal state of mind.  Knowing when to help and when to just walk away can be a real balancing act, but it can be learned if it is something you struggle to master.

Go ahead and complete the “Is Franchising for Me?” workbook.  At the very least, ponder your perceived role in the franchise you are currently considering.  A little self-reflection now can help ensure you are happy with your franchise choice in the future.

Woman-Focused

Franchises that focus on women and are run by women have grown a lot in popularity over the last year and are expended to continue to do so in 2009. These businesses can include anything from women’s health centers to women-targeted clothing stores.

Fun Food

Crazy food franchises have grown a lot trendier over the past year as well. By offering something different then the normal fast food like menu, these businesses can reach out to crowds that are tired of unhealthy, processed foods. Additionally, by letting consumers create their dishes, such as yogurt shops that let you create your own custom dessert, they can connect with customers of a more creative level.

Thinking Green

It is no surprise that green-thinking businesses made our list. Nowadays any business can be labeled “green” just by stating their cups are made of recycled materials or their food is organic. However, it is more than trendy, as green businesses often build very loyal customer bases that do not mind paying a “green” surcharge.

Pets

People have always loved their pets, but in recent years doting on your dog or cats has become increasing popular. Stores that offer accessories, clothes, food, and toys for pets have seen a decent increase in business over the last year, and that increase is expected to skyrocket in 2009.

Pampering Services

With the stress of the economy and long days at work, people are looking for the occasional release. Massage services, and fair-priced day spas are making a comeback and incorporating other trends along the way. Spas with natural or organic services attract business because wellness then natural way is so popular.

For the Kids

Businesses catering to the higher education of children are also expected to boom in 2009. Part of this is due to the second coming of the baby boom, but also because of the general falling faith in America’s education system. Tutoring services as well as after-school programs are both expected to be trendy franchises in 2009.

Home Improvement

Since the real estate market is expected to continue its decline into 2009, home improvement businesses have proved to be a fair alternative. Many homeowners are opting to remodel their homes instead of seeing for a loss, or foreclosing on their loan to buy a new house. Additionally, families that do move into foreclosed houses often need help making improvements to the property before they move in.

Year-Round Opportunities

Some franchises thrive off of seasonal business, but as the economy gets worse some of these franchise owners are seeking to keep their store open year round for additional business opportunities. Calendar franchises are offering stationary and supplies, Halloween stores are selling costumes and party supplies throughout the year, and tax preparation franchises, like the Roni Deutch Tax Center, are offering additional business services, to generate new customers throughout the year.

GURNEE – When Cynthia Faulkner gets up in the morning, she not only gets to bring her pets – a cat, Harley; and dogs Charm, Butch, Dewey and Gizmo – to work, but she also gets to spend a majority of the day playing with other animals.

Faulkner has combined her passion for pets with her love for customer interaction by running a Central Bark Doggy Day Care franchise in Gurnee.

But she has not always worked in the pet-care industry.

For 19 years, Faulkner worked at Midwest Airlines doing jobs that required frequent customer service.

While working, she not only meet her husband, Joe, but also developed a love for interacting with customers.In addition, she earned a degree in zoology at Carroll College in Waukesha and the University of Wisconsin.

An internship even allowed Faulkner to go behind the scenes at the Racine Zoo in Wisconsin, which she had visited as a little girl. But while feeding the orangutans and rhinoceroses at the zoo, Faulkner felt something was missing.

“At the zoo, I never got to interact with people,” Faulkner said.

Eventually, Faulkner and her husband thought of a job that combined Faulkner’s love of costumer interaction with her passion for animals – running a day care for dogs.

The idea to open a day care was conceived in February 2007.

“Getting started with the business was a lot of work,” Faulkner said, “but we got lucky.”

In June 2008, Faulkner and her husband began operating Central Bark Doggy Day Care in Gurnee.

At the day care, dogs enjoy hours of playtime and exercise, broken up by meal and rest times.

Heather Sullivan, a customer of the Gurnee-based business, said her dogs really enjoy it and are tired out by the time they leave.

“They get excited when ever I come here,” Sullivan said about her two dogs, Lucy and Finneas.

Before dogs are admitted into Central Bark Doggy Day Care, they have to pass a behavior assessment test.

“My primary goal is that [the animals] are safe,” Faulkner said.

She added that the dogs in her daycare get along really well.

“The dogs actually make friends,” Faulkner said. “It’s like they are at school.”

When she can, Faulkner keeps stray animals at the day care through an organization called Placing Paws, an agency that saves animals from being euthanized.

She also will bring animals from crowded animal shelters to Central Bark until they are adopted.

“I get so attached to these dogs,” said Faulkner, who has cried when some of the dogs are adopted. “It’s a bittersweet experience.”

So far, through the Placing Paws program, Faulkner has sheltered five cats and four dogs.

The Faulkners enjoy every dog at their day care, placing a picture of each dog that visits on the store’s wall.

“If I could own 1 million dogs, I would,” Faulkner said.

About Central Bark:  Central Bark opened its den in 1997 to support the growing number of people who realize dogs are not just pets. As the nation's largest network of day care for dogs, Central Bark™ is committed to providing a clean, healthy, fun and nurturing environment for dogs while you're away.